Performers and animals from the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus made their “Pachyderm Parade” across Capitol Hill last night. And while the line of thundering elephants did not usher it a new era of Republican leadership, it did give spectators around the U.S. Capitol something more interesting than Congress to look at. Oh, and even though the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals told DCist yesterday that the group was not planning any formal demonstration, there were still several dozen who turned up to protest the circus’ treatment of its animals.